Direct Care Foundation

MISSION STATEMENT

At The Direct Care Foundation (DCF), we are committed to transforming the U.S. healthcare system by promoting patient-centered, direct-payment healthcare models. We believe that when patients have the opportunity and the option to directly pay their healthcare providers, they receive better care at lower costs. Our mission is to educate, advocate, and expand the option for people to have access to Direct Primary Care (DPC), Direct Specialty Care (DSP), and Cash Surgery Centers across the nation, making these affordable, transparent, and high-quality care options available to every American.

Vision

Our vision is a future where healthcare is simple, affordable, and accessible to everyone—a healthcare system where doctors and patients work directly together, free from unnecessary administrative burdens. Through advocacy, education, and support, The Direct Care Foundation aims to establish Direct Care as a standard option in healthcare.

Values

We are driven by a set of core values that guide our work in advocating for Direct Care:

Transparency: We believe in clear, upfront pricing for healthcare services so patients always know what they are paying for.
Patient-Centered Care: Patients deserve quality time with their doctors and personalized care that fits their needs.
Affordability: Healthcare should be affordable for everyone, and by removing unnecessary complexities, we can reduce costs across the system.

Education: We are committed to educating the public, healthcare providers, and policymakers about the benefits of Direct Care models.
Advocacy: We work tirelessly to support legislation and policies that reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers and promote patient-first healthcare.

History

Founded in response to the growing dissatisfaction with the complexity and rising costs in healthcare, The Direct Care Foundation (DCF) was established to promote healthcare models that remove unnecessary bureaucracy and place control back in the hands of patients and doctors.

The Direct Care Foundation was built on the belief that the traditional healthcare system is too complex and inefficient—leading to higher costs and less personalized care. We saw an opportunity to change this by advocating for Direct Primary Care (DPC), Direct Specialty Care (DSP), and Cash Surgery Centers—models that simplify healthcare, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes.

Since its inception, DCF has been focused on educating the public and healthcare professionals about the benefits of direct-payment models. We’ve expanded our outreach to include policy advocacy, working with lawmakers to support legislative changes that allow Direct Care models to thrive. We’ve also created resources and communities for patients and providers who want to explore these innovative models and are working to expand Direct Care services nationwide.

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is committed to making Direct Care a reality for patients and providers across the country.

Michelle Carchedi

Michelle Carchedi is often considered a renaissance woman having made an impact in a variety of business sectors throughout her career. She has held senior consulting positions in healthcare, pharmaceutical, retail, design, corporate governance, real estate, entertainment and law. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, a Master’s Certificate in Custom Design and a Juris Doctorate from Fordham University, School of Law.

Carl Dameron

Carl M. Dameron is a seasoned advertising and public relations professional. Since 1988, he has been a driving force in the California business landscape, serving companies, governments, and non-profits as the Founder and Creative Director of Dameron Communications. Carl has held executive-level advertising and public relations positions at PR firms BSMG Worldwide and Weber Shandwick and has a track record that includes creating award-winning print, TV, radio, and billboard advertising and generating media coverage from local newspapers and TV stations to the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, CNBC, and the Today Show. Carl enjoys giving back and his pro bono donations of time and effort have helped several local non-profits—including the the Salvation Army and both the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts—achieve superior news coverage, recognition, and funding.

Sky Hounschell

Sky Hounschell is a seasoned professional in construction management, distinguished by his significant impact on the industry with a portfolio encompassing $38 billion in projects through federal, public, and private partnerships. As the lead senior cost engineer at Tessere Architectural and Engineering, Sky drives fiscal strategy and project execution. Sky’s expertise extends into economic development as an active member of the RAND Corporation, where he contributes to shaping economic policy. Additionally, Sky is a dynamic entrepreneur, partnering in various startups and thriving businesses, demonstrating his versatile acumen in both construction and business innovation.

Niven Narain

Niven R. Narain is President & CEO of BPGbio, which uses biology-focused artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up and de-risk the process of drug discovery across oncology, neurology, and rare diseases. Under his leadership, BPGbio has developed a rich pipeline of intellectual-property assets, including 650 issued and pending U.S. and international patents. As an industry thought leader in precision medicine, drug development, and AI, Niven is a frequent speaker at international meetings on medicine and technology, including conferences sponsored by The Economist, The Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Wired. Niven is also serves as a member of the NASA/Gene Lab Steering Committee, advisor to the U.S. Department of Defense on breast and prostate cancer, and R&D Committee Chairman for the School of Applied Computational Sciences at Meharry Medical College.

what we do

The Direct Care Foundation promotes direct-payment healthcare models that empower patients and doctors to work together without unnecessary administrative barriers.

We focus on three main areas of impact:

Advocacy: We work with policymakers to support laws and regulations that enable Direct Primary Care, Direct Specialty Care, and Cash Surgery Centers to operate freely. Our goal is to reduce the regulatory burdens that prevent these models from flourishing and ensure that patients have access to transparent and affordable healthcare options.
Education: Through workshops, webinars, and informational resources, we educate patients, healthcare providers, and the general public on the benefits of Direct Care models. We provide guidance on how to access Direct Primary Care or Direct Specialty Care providers and how patients can benefit from the cash surgery center model.
Support for Providers: We support healthcare providers by advocating for legislation that reduces administrative burdens and by creating networks of support for doctors who want to transition to Direct Care models. We are also working to develop resources on how to set up and run a DPC or DSP practice successfully.

Join Us

We invite you to join us in our mission to transform healthcare. Whether you’re a patient, a provider, or someone interested in making healthcare more affordable and transparent, there’s a role for you at The Direct Care Foundation.

Join the Movement: Become a member and help us expand Direct Care.
Donate: Your contributions help us advocate for legislative changes and support healthcare providers.
Learn More: Explore our resources and find out how Direct Care can work for you.